Police Reports, Dashcam Video and Car Accident Evidence
The evidence in a car crash claim starts to scatter within hours. Vehicles get towed and repaired, video gets recorded over and witnesses become harder to find. A car accident attorney typically starts with the police report, photos, video and the data stored in the vehicles. This article explains how each source fits into a claim.
The crash report
When officers respond to a crash, they usually prepare a crash report, sometimes called a police report. It usually records who was driving each vehicle and which insurer covers it, and it often includes a diagram, a short narrative and any citations. In many states, drivers must also report crashes involving injury, death or property damage above a set dollar amount. Copies are usually available from the agency that responded, whether that is a city police department, a sheriff's office or the state highway patrol, sometimes for a fee.
Insurers rely heavily on the crash report, but it does not decide fault. Rules on using an officer's opinions at trial vary by state. When a report has a factual error, such as a wrong plate number, the agency may accept a request to correct or supplement it. A car accident lawyer will check the report against the photos and statements.
Video and photo evidence
Dashcam footage can capture the seconds before a crash better than a witness can. Keep the original file with its timestamp, instead of a phone recording of the screen, and make a backup copy. Traffic cameras and nearby businesses may also have recorded the crash, but many systems overwrite footage within days or weeks. Scene photos can show where the vehicles stopped and the debris and skid marks around them, and photos of injuries taken over several weeks can show how they changed.
What the vehicle itself recorded
Many cars and light trucks carry an event data recorder (EDR). NHTSA describes an EDR as a device that records technical vehicle and occupant information for a brief period, seconds rather than minutes, surrounding a crash. Depending on the vehicle, the data may include speed and brake application as well as seat belt use. NHTSA's rule in 49 CFR Part 563 sets requirements for EDRs in light vehicles that have them. Under the Driver Privacy Act of 2015, EDR data generally belongs to the vehicle owner or lessee, and others may access it only in limited situations, such as with the owner's consent or a court order.
EDR data can be lost if the car is repaired or crushed. Insurers often move a total loss vehicle to a salvage auction quickly, so an automobile accident attorney may send a preservation letter asking that the vehicle be held until the data can be downloaded.
Witness statements and medical records
Witnesses with no stake in the claim often carry weight. Their names and phone numbers should be collected at the scene if it is safe to do so. Medical records connect the injuries to the crash, and gaps in treatment are often used by insurers to dispute a claim. A simple file with the claim number and a log of every call with the adjuster https://emilianocttq868.lakeviewbrief.com/posts/nhtsa-traffic-crash-statistics-on-speeding-and-drunk-driving makes later questions easier to answer. Pain levels, missed work and appointments are worth noting in a journal while the details are fresh. This is general information rather than legal advice, and no result can be predicted from it.